System of teledynamic control



Feb. 7, 1928.

J. H. HAMMOND, JR

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIC CONTROL Original Filc'd 80. 15, 1913 mi we sees HInventor:

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- fltiiys Patented Feb. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR., F GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SYSTEM OF TELEDYNAMIG CONTROL.

Appleation filed December 15, 1913, Serial No. 806,675.

This invention relates to a teledynamically controlled discharge systemwhereby a series of bodies detachably mounted upon a basahbody may bedetached therefrom at intervals or in sequence by means responsive toradiant energy from a distance. Said basal body may be of any suitablecharacter, but preferably is itself a movable body, such as a torpedo oran aeroplane, the movements whereof are controlled by radiant energytransmitted from a distant control station and preferably byelectromagnetic waves.

The detachable bodies may likewise be of any suitable character, butpreferably and as herein disclosed they are light bombs adapted to bedischarged at intervals from the torpedo or other vessel or body whereonthey are suitably supported.

The figure shows a receiving station on my system partly in diagrammaticform. It is to be understood that there is a corresponding transmittingstation capable of sending out electric waves of any desired length andwith any desired group frequency or amplitude-variation frequency.

In the figure, A is a receiving antenna, in circuit with the inductancecoil L and variable condenser C, and grounded at E. This antenna circuitis tuned to the wave length of the corresponding transmitting station,and is coupled to the oscillation circuit L C, by means of the coils Land L The oscillation circuit L C comprises the inductance coil L andvariable condenser 0 and is in tune with the antenna circuit and withthe wave length of the transmitting station, and this oscillationcircuit L C supplies unidirectional current impulses, by means of thestopping condenser D and rectifier R, to the coil L The oscillationcircuit L C comprising the inductance coil L and variable condenser C istuned to the wavegroup frequency or wave-amplitude-variation frequencyof the corresponding transmitting station, and is inductively coupledwith thecoil L by means of coil L. Circuit L C by means of the stoppingcondenser D and the rectifier R supplies unidirectional current impulsesto the relay F.

The relay Fand the battery B, in circuit therewith, cause theelectromagnet M to be energized. The movable core or plunger N of thiselectromagnet has attached to it a rod n, to which is fastened a stop Iand a contact piece J, the latter being insulated.

Renewed July 13, 1927.

The spring S, which is also insulated, tends to pull the rod n and coreN away from the electromagnet M. One pole of the battery B is connectedto contact piece J and the other pole is grounded at E.

K, K and K are flexible or spring Contacts, connected respectively withs ark gaps in the ignition charges of exp osive, or fuses, at T, T and Tand grounded at E, E and E respectively.

0, O and O are discharge tubes or chambers containing the bombs orprojectiles P, P P respectively and the charges of explosive Q, Q Qrespectively. U is a pipe connecting the tube or chamber 0 with achamber G in the rear of the piston I-I thereof. The said piston isprovided with a piston red h, which in its outward position projects farenough to prevent the stop I from moving past it. U is a pipe similarlyconnecting the tube or chamber 0 with the cylinder G In the cylinder Gris a piston H having a piston rod h, the latter when in its outwardposition projecting far enough to intercept the stop I. Springs h" areprovided to move said pistons in a direction away from the rod n of theplunger N of the electromagnet M, and to maintain the piston rods h' andh normally out of the path of the stop I. Each of said pipes U, U isprovided with a check valve UK, and the cylinders G and G are providedat their outer ends with apertures g, and g respectively, to permitgases to escape slowly therefrom for a purpose that will appearhereinafter.

' Y Z is acircuit connected with relay F and battery B, and leading-tomechanism, such as a steering gear, or an engine control, or some otherapparatus.

The system operates as follows :--When properly tuned electric waves, inwave groups or with amplitude variations of the proper frequency, arereceived by the antenna circuit A L C E, and the oscillation circuits LC and L C, the relay F is actuated, and the electromagnet M isenergized. The core or plunger N is attracted and moves upward, carryingthe rod n withit. Contact piece J thereupon makes connection withcontact K, and current from the battery B flows through the spark gap inthe ignition charge or fuse T and this charge is ignited and explodesthe explosive Q. The bomb or projectile P is discharged from the tube 0,and at the same time the pressure due to .the explosion is transmittedthrough the pipe U to the cylinder G, thereby forcing the piston rod hto the left, so that it is in the path of movement of the stop I, andtherefore prevents, for the proper period of time, the upward movementof the rod 11,-. The spent gases or pressure conveyed through the pipe Uand confined by the check valve therein, gradually escape from thechamber (l through the aperture I and the spring b returns the piston Hto normal position. removing its plunger rod h from the path of movementof the stop I. Unless it be desired to discharge the second bombimmediately. the transmitted electric waves are stopped by the operatorat the transmitting station in time to de-encrgizc the electromagnet Mbefore the contact J has moved up far enough to touch contact K, and thespring S then draws core N, rod a, stop I and contact J back to theiroriginal positions.

When it is desired to discharge the second bomb P the transmittingstation again sends out electric waves, relay F and electromagnet M areagain energized, and core N is again attracted. The rod 11. movesupward, and as the stop I is no longer held by piston rod 71, contact .Imoves past the l'lcxible contact K and makes contact with contact KThereupon current from the battery B flows through the spark gap in theignition charge or fuse T and this charge is ignited and explo'dcs theexplosive Q.

The bomb or projectile P is discharged from the tube 0 and at the sametime the pressure due to the explosion is transmitted through the pipe Uto the cylinder G, thereby forcing the piston H toward the left, so thatits plunger h is interposed in the path of movement of the stop I, thuspreventing sutticient' movement of the memer J to permit contact thereofwith the contact K The spent gases or pressure con. veyed through thepipe U gradually escape from. the chamber G through the aperture 9 andthe spring h returns the piston H to normal position, removing itsplunger rod h from the path of movement of the stop 1. Unless it bedesired to discharge the third bomb immediately, the operator at thetransmitting station ceases transmitting electromagnetic waves in timeto de-energize the electromagnet M before the contact J is moved farenough to touch contact K and. the spring S then draws core N, rod n,stop I and contact J back to their original po" sitions.

When it is desired to discharge the third bomb P the same procedure isgone through with, and as many bombs may be provided and discharged asis desired, it being understood that the corresponding pipes, cylinders,contacts and other auxiliary apparatus shall be multiplied as oftenasmay be necessary. The illustration is largely diagrammatic and thecontacts K, K and K may be placed any suitable or desired distancesapart, and in practice the distant operator may cease the transmissionof electromagnetic waves immediately upon the tiring of any bomb andthus mcvcnt the immediate firing of the next bomb.

In this manner. a vessel controlled by radiant energy, may be sent outat night among hostile ships, and whenever desired, a bomb can bedischarged. which contains some suitable substance, such as calciumphosphide, that will give out light on contact with water, and so willilluminate the ships and enable a shore battery to direct its tire onthe enemy. Many other uses can also he found for my invention. Thesecond oscillation circuit If (I can be omitted, and the receivingcircuits tuned only to the wave length of the transmitting station, andin; stead .of discharging light bombs from a moving vessel, I candischarge other bodies from a moving or a stationary body. The terms upand down and right and left used in describing my invention willnaturally be changed with the arrangement of my apparatus; and ingeneral I do not confine myself to the particular apparatus andmechanisms here shown, but changes and modifications, within theknowledge of those skilled in the art, may be made in the apparatusshown and described herein, without departing from the spirit of myinvention, provided the means set forth in the following claims beemployed.

Having thus described one illustrative embodiment of my invention. Idesire it to be understood that although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the followingclaims:

1. In a teledynamically controlled discharge system, the combinationwith a receiving system for radiant energy comprising means tuned to arelatively high frequency, means tuned to a lower frequency and meansresponsive to signal variations and operative only as a result of theconjoint action of both of said tuned means, of means for detachablysupporting a series of dischargeablebodies upon a movable body, andmeans controlled by said signal responsive means for discharging one ofsaid detachable bodies.

2..In a teledynainically controlled discharge system, the'combinationwith a receiving system for radiant energy comprising means tuned to arelatively high frequency, means tuned to a lower frequency and, meansresponsive to signal variations and operative only as a result of theconjoint action of both of said tuned means, of

means for supporting a series of bodies upon discharging said separablebodies in a carrier and means controlled by said signal responsive meansfor releasing one of said bodies.

3. In a teledynamically controlled discharge system, the combinationwith meansfor detachably supporting a series of separable bodies upon amovable body, means gor re etermined sequence, and means control ed bythe discharge of one of said bodies to retard the discharge of asucceeding body, of a receiving antenna circuit tuned to the wavefrequency of radiant energy of complex wave form, and oscillationcircuit inductively coupled to said antenna circuit and tuned to thewave roup frequency of the radiant energy, and an indicating devicecontrolled by the conjoint action of said circuits for, operating saiddischarging means.

4. In a teledynamically controlled discharge system, means forsupporting a plurality of projectiles upon a basal body, means fordischarging said projectiles one at a time in predetermined sequence,and means for actuating said discharging means comprising a circuittuned to the wave frequency of radiant energy of complex wave form andincluding a second oscillation circuit coupled to the said firstmentioned circuit and tuned to the wave-amplitude-variation frequenc ofthe radiant energy.

5. In a te edynamic system of control, the combination with a pluralityof utilities means tuned to a. lower frequency, a relay responsive tosignal variations and operative only as a result of a conjoint action ofboth of said tuned means, said relay being arranged to control theactuation of said electromagnet, and means controlled by the, actuationof each of said utilities except the last to modify the action of saidlongitudinal member.

6. In a system of radiodynamic control the combination with a pluralityof utilities arranged in predetermined sequence, of means for operatingsaid utilities successively comprising radiant energy responsive meanstuned to a relatively high frequency, an oscillation circuit coupledthereto and tuned to the wave frequency of the received radiant energy,means controlled by the conjoint action of both of said tuned means forinitiating the actuation of said utilities, and means controlled by theactuation of each of said utilities except the last to modify the actionof said conjointly controlled means.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN HAYS HAMMOND, JR.

